Cataloging the connections

Viewing the brain as a network may help scientists tackle its complexity

LINKED IN Using brain scanning technologies, scientists can create maps (above) showing the brain’s wiring, consisting of white matter fibers that link different parcels of the brain’s gray matter. The most highly connected parcels, or hubs, are indicated by blue and white dots.

Mapping the human brain is a noble goal, but a rather ill-defined one. It’s like making a map of the United States. You could just show political boundaries and the locations of cities. Or you might depict geographical features like mountains and rivers. Or transportation routes, like interstate highways and railroad tracks. You might even go Google Maps all the way and show the location of every individual house.

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